The Buffalo Bills have a short distance to travel for their Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, but they could take a huge step.
With a win, the Bills (9-4) would clinch a playoff spot. In fact, they could keep alive a shot at the AFC East title.
“We’re playing games that matter in December,” Bills tight end Lee Smith said. “I just know we’re trying to go 1-0 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and if that results is us locking in a playoff spot with two games left in the season, that’s a pretty dang good feeling.
“It’s absolutely a great feeling and an awesome deal that we kind of control (a chance at) playing games in January.”
Buffalo is coming off a 24-17 loss against the visiting Baltimore Ravens last week that ended the Bills’ three-game winning streak. However, Buffalo is 5-1 on the road.
“It’s no secret we’ve got to go win this game,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “We’ve got to go win the next couple games that we have, but we’re focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers right now.”
Buffalo is 7-0 when scoring more than 17 points, but Allen and the Bills face a staunch Pittsburgh defense.
The Steelers (8-5) rank fifth in the NFL at 310.9 yards allowed per game. Their defense features safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is tied for the NFL lead with five interceptions, and linebacker T.J. Watt, who is among the league leaders with 12.5 sacks.
“They’re playing extremely well, taking away the ball, sacking the quarterback at a high rate,” Allen said. “They’ve had a really good pass rush plan.... It’s going to be very tough for us.”
The Steelers, who started 1-4 and lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to elbow surgery during that stretch, have won seven of eight since then.
While they can’t clinch a playoff spot Sunday, they can set themselves up well for postseason play with a win.
Like the Bills, Pittsburgh will be facing a tough defense. Buffalo ranks third at 296.8 yards a game allowed and also is third against the pass at 191.5 yards a game.
That could be a challenge for quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges, who is essentially the Steelers’ third-stringer but who has supplanted Mason Rudolph and is 3-0 as a starter.
Hodges, who seems unflappable, has completed 71.3 % of his passes with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
“They’re a good defense,” Hodges said of the Bills. “We’ve played a lot of good defenses. They’re just a solid group.”
It’s possible he will get some help this week. No. 1 receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and No. 1 running back James Conner (shoulder) have missed the past three weeks. Both practised with no restrictions Wednesday, but their status remained unclear.
Pittsburgh has filled in at running back by committee, although one of those carrying the load, Jaylen Samuels, sat out practice Wednesday because of a groin injury he sustained last week in a 23-17 win at Arizona.
Perhaps Conner can fill that gap, but he didn’t sound sure.
“(I did) a couple of reps here and there,” Conner said. “I got a couple of reps with the offense. I am still taking it day-by-day.
“I just want to be out there competing. These games are crucial. They are critical for us in the position we are in. We are just trying to control our own destiny.”